Our Policy Agenda

The National Council of Women's Organizations (NCWO) includes over 200 member organizations. Together, we subscribe to the core policies listed below. While not all member organizations work actively on each of these concerns, members will not work in opposition to these principles.

We recognize the importance of improving programs and policies that address girls' and women's economic, legal, social and physical well-being throughout their lifespan. Our policy agenda comprises building blocks for a society free from the inequality, oppression and discrimination that face a variety of women and girls from many different backgrounds and experiences.

In order for the following concerns to be fully addressed, the government must appropriately allocate its resources to invest in the needs of its citizens. Domestic spending should not be sacrificed for increased defense spending. Spending should be balanced to invest adequately in the economic security of women and families.

Equal educational opportunity for all people and elimination of sex discrimination in all aspects of formal and informal education at all levels ranging from pre-primary to postsecondary and adult education

Access to higher education and training throughout the lifespan

Enhanced funding for quality public education through a system of progressive taxation

Strengthened Title IX protections for non-discrimination on the basis of sex

Improved implementation and enforcement of Title IX with special attention to full compliance with the provisions for Title IX Coordinators

Legal single sex education for the affirmative purpose of reducing sex discrimination under the 1975 Title IX regulations

Increased federal support for research, development and evaluation of programs and activities that increase gender equity

Increased use of successful gender equity programs and activities

Increased federal, state and local support of girls' primary and secondary educational opportunities in science, math and technology

Efforts to increase numbers of women in science, math, technology and other nontraditional fields such as criminal justice that lead to high-wage high-skill employment

Expanded education and training programs for welfare recipients and other low-wage workers, teens, single parents and displaced homemakers to enable them to move into jobs with self-sufficient wages

We oppose:

Illegal single sex education under the 1975 Title IX regulations and the 14th amendment equal protection clause

In the interim, increased funding for public health programs such as Medicaid, State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and Medicare

Medically accurate, science-based public health policy

Access to safe, legal abortion

A vigorous defense of reproductive self-determination

Universal access to reproductive health services, contraceptives and information for all women regardless of income level

Comprehensive sex education that is science-based, age-appropriate and culturally appropriate

Strengthened protection from anti-choice terrorism and application of domestic terrorism statutes in response to violence that is directed against reproductive health clinics

Elimination of gender bias in research, treatment and access in the health care system

Elimination of health-based discrimination such as discrimination based on mental health, genetic information or HIV/AIDS status

Expanded funding for a broad spectrum of women's health research including research that addresses gender, race or ethnically-based biological differences and those diseases or health conditions that disproportionately affect women and girls

Expanded research on the delivery and appropriateness of women's health services and on health care information technology

We oppose:

Policies or regulations that single out reproductive health care for special restrictions such as but not limited to: the Global Gag Rule, abortion restrictions on women in the military, targeted regulation of abortion providers (TRAP) laws and pharmacy discretion in dispensing contraception